Obama most popular Democratic presidential candidate among Arab-Americans, poll shows

Courtesy Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama is the most popular Democratic presidential candidate among Arab-Americans, especially those who are Muslim, according to a new poll released this week.

Thirty-seven percent of the Arab-American Democrats or Independents who were polled said they would vote for Sen. Obama in a primary, while U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton got 33%. John Edwards got 12%, and Bill Richardson, 10%.

The nationwide poll was conducted by Zogby International and was released by the Arab American Institute on Thursday. They polled 501 Arab-Americans across the country from May 22 to May 26, asking them 38 questions. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.

The biggest issue for Arab-Americans is the Iraq war, with 61% of them saying itâ€™s a top concern, according to the poll.

â€œItâ€™s somewhat more important for them than the general public,â€ said James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute.

The poll also shows that almost eight in 10 Arab-Americans rate President Bushâ€™s job performance negatively.

Zogby said the poll also shows that Arab-American Republicans are turning away from their party.

Over half of the Republican Arab-Americans polled, 53%, said they would vote either Democrat, or that it would depend on the candidate.

Among Republican candidates, Rudy Giuliani got 32% of support among Arab-American Republicans or Independents, with Sen. John McCain at 28%, and Mitt Romney at 16%.

Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at nwarikoo@freepress.com or 248-351-2998.

Fundraiser for US Rep. Keith Ellison (D-5th-MN)

Canton–June 30–The first known Muslim to serve in the US Congress, Keith Ellison held a fundraiser this past Sunday in Canton, Michigan.

Keith Maurice Ellison (born August 4, 1963) is an American lawyer and politician belonging to the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. He became the first Muslim to be elected to the United States Congress when he won the open seat for Minnesotaâ€™s 5th congressional district (which contains the entire city of Minneapolis) in the House of Representatives in 2006. He is also the first African American elected to the House from Minnesota, currently serving in the freshman class of the 110th United States Congress. Ellison is also active on a national level in advocacy for Muslims in the United States.

The fundraiser was held in the late morning and early afternoon of Sunday, and cost $100 per person, $150 per couple.

The cost for attendance was $100 Per Person / $150 Per Couple and the event was held at the home of Drs. Muzammil & Azra Ahmed.

If you would like to make donations to the Keith Ellison campaign fund you can contact Rep. Ellisonâ€™s office directly at the Ellison for Congress Committee at PO Box 11818, Minneapolis, MN 55411. Checks can be made payable to â€œEllison for Congressâ€.

Iraqi Member of Parliament Visits Detroit

July 2–Detroit–Local Muslim and Arab organizations welcomed an Iraqi member of parliament to the Detroit area this past Monday evening, between 7pm and 9pm, at the Farmington Hills Manor in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

The Honorable Dr. Sadettin ErgeÃ§ was the Member of Parliament for the Republic of Iraq who attended the event.

Hosting organizations included: The International Visitors Council of Metropolitan Detroit, Councilman John Akouri, Member of the Board of Directors, Deputy Executive Director Regan Krdu-Watson, The Assembly of Turkish American Associations, The Public Outreach Committee, Ms. Nurten Ural, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Turkey, The Voice of Detroit Radio, Mr. & Mrs. Nick Najjar.

The MP spoke on the subject of â€œIraqi Unity and Solidarity Based on Human Rights, Equitable Sharing of Resources, and Iraqi Territorial Integrity.â€

Mr. Sadettin is an ethnic Turkmen who led a delegation from Iraq to Washington this past Spring to voice unease over the constitutional process regarding the disputed northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.

A referendum on the status of the strategically important, oil-rich city of Kirkuk is slated for the end of 2007. While Iraqi Kurds are currently pushing for the referendum, the cityâ€™s other residents, Turkmens and Arabs are reluctant, fearing that the referendum would only confirm Kirkuk as part of the Kurdish region in the face of a massive influx of Kurdish immigrants over the past years.

Mr. Sadettin expressed doubt in an interview with Todayâ€™s Zaman about the long term viability of Iraq if the referendum even takes place.

CAIR-MI Participates In ACLU Day of Action

On June 26, 2007, CAIR-MI participated in the ACLU Day of Action for the reinstating Habeus Corpus (right to due process) and the ending of torture of detainees. Rallies took place in front of the offices of Representative Joe Knollenber (R-MI) and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

ACLU-MI, CAIR-MI and ACCESS met with the staff of Senator Stabenow to discuss the importance of Habeus Corpus and the international implications of the US governmentâ€™s torturing of Muslims.

CAIR-MI has been alerted of a rash of assaults against Muslims taking place in the area of Masjid Al-Falah and Muslim Family Services. CAIR-MI advises community to take extra security precautions in the Detroit and Hamtramck areas.

CAIR-MI Internships Available For Fall 2007

CAIR-MI now has internships available for college/university students for the Fall 2007 semseter. To apply, students should submit a resume along with three references and a letter stating why they are interested in interning with CAIR-MI by email at info@cairmichigan.org.